The Press., 1887-07-07
HISTORY OF MONSON ACAD-
 EMY.
BY REV. JAMES TUFTS OF MoNsoN.

01 hHVs JAMES TUFTS OF MONSONs
 The history of the academy has been so carefully written by Dr.. Hammond, till 1863, and by Rev. Isaac Clark, till the re- union four years ago, 1888. that l shall only briefly allude to the main points of this history, giving some reasons for the continued support of this institution by it's friends and the public. Monson acad- emy was incorporated in 1904, and the building dedicated October 26, 1906, when 3 sermon was preached by Rev. Richard 5. Storrs of Longmeadow, one of the trus- tees of the new academy. There has been in these 81 years 20 principals and about 135 assistant teachers, male and female, who have taught not less than 1000 pu- pills in these years, and about 300 of these have been prepared for college. 1t is long procession, 1000 pupils and 135 teach CTS, to pass in review before ns. And yet we may not finger on the many scenes that crowd the memory in such an hour !; the greetings and the farewells, morning and evening prayers, and the daily recita- tlons Tn all these years: Dr. Colton for lO years, and Dr. Hammond for % years pre- siding with dignity and inspiring their pu- pills with zeal for wisdom and knowledge. And it may be remarked of all the in structors here, that they have been, with few exceptions, able teachers, who have rendered themselves distinguished in many fields of labor. A school so weak in friends must be strong in the character and ability of it's teachers, or it can have no snccess.
 An uneventful, quiet life for the most part is that of teachers and pupils in such school. yet fnR S daily interest, vivaci- ty and joy as is that of family Aud as years go by we learn to prize more highly the worth of what we gain from the school and college, devoting and enlarg1ng the wicledly destroyed has yet sheltered 8 very large family, where the holiest infu- ences have shed around the light of educa- tion, religion and the best culture And this is one reason the old academies have so many sacred memories, not for college graduates only. but for all the members, because the youth have found here not only pleasure but inspiration for higher life, without which all culture is of little value.
 | The graduates of Monson academy have been found in all the professions and
 walks of life, doing good service in their day as presidents and professors of colleges, as clergymen, lawyers, judges and physi- clans, but no list of eminent men, were | they ten times as numerous and far more distinguished, could represent the great benefits conferred by Monson academy on | it's students, in -elevating and improving their characters, and in preparing them for the better discharge of the various du- ties of life. This benign influence has been felt, especially among those who have never entered the professions, in many humble homes and households in all our towns, sweetening and enlarging the daily 1 life. The intelligence, culture and morali- 1 ty that have distinguished the common life in New England, have been owing in no slight degree to the influence of the academies in the past, and we can hardly afford to be without this influence in the future. And here may be permitted to say, what other principals also could say, that the majority of pupils of both sexes have had so much character and self-re- spect that they could be relied on not to disobey or disregard any reasonable rule or request of teachers and to sustain the greatest Iropriety of conduct in the school, so that they were free from the petty and irritating rules more necessary in other schools. Often, too, have I known those who were inclined to be wayward, quietly disappear from school where they found so little sympathy, and go somewhere, to their own place, among the frivolous and the foolish.
 Us it not worth something for the young to be under such healthful influences ? And I desire this day to testify to the great transforming and moulding power of this institution on it's pupils as have witnessed it in my seven years joyful service in the academy.
 The tuition at first was only $2. 50 per quarter, or $lO a year, increasing to an ! # Tho oG pupils has never been very large, varying in most years from an average of 80 to 115 year. The largest number I find in any catalogue is 156 for the fall term of 1856. The proportion of pupils from abroad was from one-half to two-thirds, and sometimes more than three-fourths. In the report of the principal of the acad- emy to the trustees, for 1857, I find the fol lowing items
 "The average membership of scholars the past year has been 115, larger proportion in the classical department than in any previous year of my administration. Of the five cata- logues published since my connection with the school, the average attendance was the first year 87, the second no, the third 113, the fourth 113, the fifth 115. Gentlemen in the classical department first year 38, second year fl, third year 54, fourth year 56, fifth year TO-"
 ''The past year has been very pleasant year in the school, the government easy and the standard of study high. There has been more or less religious interest each term dur ing the year, and the teachers notice with great pleasure the improvement of the pupils in character and demeanor from term to term and in the same term.'1
 The usefulness of the academy in these long years has been due in no slight de- gree to the trustees, who have been men of ability, discretion, and devoted to the in- terests of the institution, managing it's funds with good judgment, and attending the annual meeting at no little sacrifice of time, often contributing to the funds and always interested in the welfare of the academy. Among these trustees from abroad may be mentioned Rev. Ephraim Ward, Dr. Bond, Dr. Vaill, Dr. Perkins, Judge Spaulding, Judge Chapman, Judge Knowlton, R. s. Storrs of Longmeadow, Rev. J. w. Harding and I. M. Lyman. The public owes large debt of gratitude to the faithful trustees of our colleges and academies, and it will be an evil day for social learning when good men are not willing to discharge such duties. Much also of the success of Monson academy has been due to the kind words and sympathy of fha oood naOnle of Our village AS also